being a Papist and with sundry others who found such means as that they procured Devils to be raised Sorcerers Witches and Enchanters all which said he I know and can name and mind one day to help to burn them to work upon my Body with intent to make me call back my said words of protestation concerning the truth of this Religion which if I would not do said they but could endure the Torments that they would inflict then they all would be of my Religion and would make me Emperor over all Europe This Tale to them that had minds afore His Tale credited prepared and took Hacket by reason of his most earnest Protestations Prayers shew of zeal pretended favour with God and such like to be a man that would not tel an untruth for all the world seemed no way unprobable or to be discredited So that these three principal Actors having as well among themselves as with others often conferred hereabouts both by word and writing were by the midst of Trinity Term become most resolute for the advancing of their designments For in a Letter written by Coppinger about that time to the aforesaid J. Thr. it is thus contained Mine own dear Brother Coppinger ' s Letter to J. Thr. my self and my two Brethren who lately were together with you in Knight-rider's Street do much desire conference with you which will ask some time The business is the Lord 's own and he doth deal in it himself in a strange and extraordinary manner in poor and simple Creatures Much is done since you did see us which you will rejoice to hear of when we shall meet and therefore I beseech you so soon as you receive this Letter hasten an Answer in writing to my Sister's House therein advertise I beseech you when I may come to speak with you for delays are dangerous and some of the great Enemies begin to be so pursued by God as they are at their wits end The Lord make us thankful for it who keep us ever to himself to do his will and not ours By occasion also of hearing Master Chark on a Friday about that time at the Coppinger ' s Leter to Chark about his extraordinary Course for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom Black-Fryers Coppinger saith he was thereupon moved by God's Spirit to write unto him a Letter which beareth date the 9th day of July last In which Letter amongst other things thus he writeth unto him I do not deny good Sir but that I have now a good long time taken a strange and extraordinary course such as hath offered occasion of suspicion of my not only doing hurt to my self but also to the best sort of men now in question and to the Cause it self But by what warrant I have done this that is all For if the Holy Ghost have been my Warrant and carrieth me into such Actions as are differing from others of great note in the Church of God what flesh and blood dare speak against me This is it that 1 desire at your hands and at all the rest of God's Servants that you forbear to censure me and such others as shall deal extraordinarily with me in the Lord's business committed to our charge and judge of us by the effects that follow which if you hereafter see to be wonderful great then are all ordinary men placed in Callings within this Land to fear and to call themselves to examination before the Justice Seat of God and see whether they have walked faithfully before God and man in seeking the salvation of the Souls of the People and the advancement of Christ's Kingdom and the overthrow of Antichrist's And if all and every one Note in their places shall be forced to confess to have failed in not discharge of their duties let them acknowledge their sin and repent before Plagues and Punishments fall upon them The waste of the Church cannot be denied to be great so that there is place for extraordinary men though temporizing Christians will not admit this therefore God's mercies shall appear to be wonderful great if amongst us he have raised up such as I know he hath and hereafter I doubt not by God's grace but I with the help of the rest shall be able to avow against all gainsayers whatsoever My desire heretofore hath been to have counsel and direction from others But now by comfortable experience I find that the Action which the Lord hath drawn me into is his own and he will direct it himself by the Holy Ghost and have the full honour of it and therefore I wait upon him and yet most heartily crave the Prayers of the Saints that they will beseech God to bless all his Servants that he hath set awork in his own business And I further beseech you to shew this Letter to Master Traverse and Master Orders it to be shewn to Traverse Egerton and the other Preachers Egerton and all the rest of the godly Preachers in the City and judge charitably of me and others and let every one look to his own Calling that therein he may deal faithfully and let us judge our selves and not judge one another further than we have warrant After this Letter it hapned that M. Chark preached in the same place again the next Sunday after at which time Coppinger took himself to be particularly meant by one part of the Sermon Whereupon he wrote a Letter to another Preacher as I do gather the Thursday after viz. the 15th of July whereby he thus signifieth M. Chark told the People that there were some Persons so desperate that they would willingly thrust themselves upon the Rocks of the Land and Waves of the Sea This I took to be spoken principally to my self and therefore I thought good to advertise you that he spake the truth in those words but he touched not me but himself and the rest of the Ministers of the Land who have not only run desperately themselves upon the Rocks and Waves but carried the whole Ship whereby they all be in danger of Shipwreck and should have perished if the Lord had not immediately called three of his Servants to help to recover it who are not only sent from God to his Church here but also elsewhere through the World My Calling is specially to deal with Magistrates Another hath to do with Ministers who hath written a Letter to you of the City but it cannot be delivered hardly this day The other third is the chiefest He pretends to be chiefly called to deal with Magistrates who can neither write nor read for he is the Lord's Executioner of his most holy will This Letter is thus subscribed The Lord's Messenger of Mercy Ed. Coppinger These three therefore strongly fancying to themselves such extraordinary Callings and standing resolute by all means to advance that which they falsly call Reformation and being thus seduced and bemoped by Hacket it is no marvel though they entred further as by degrees
pleased at the Archbishop's presence in proclaiming the King proclaimed him again 105. I am doubtful to speak lest I might seem to detract from others of the great comfort which the common People and Citizens took in the presence of the Archbishop and how heartily they prayed for him at his return as if they nothing doubted but that all went well for the State in that Counsel among whom he was present 106. He was indeed beloved of all sorts of People yea even of some of them who were the most fervent Reprehenders themselves as they have confessed since his death And well worthy was he so to be for that he carried a most mild and moderate hand over them A more particular love also he deserved of many for his affection Archbishop a lover and incourager of Liberal Arts. unto liberal and ingenious Arts whereof his domestick government and care was no less argument than his publick which I have formerly spoken of For besides the pains which he took himself after he was Bishop of Worcester and Archbishop of Canterbury many years with a number of worthy young Gentlemen in reading unto them thrice aday he took into his House besides his Chaplains divers of quality to instruct them in the Mathematicks and other Lectures of sundry Arts and Languages giving them good allowance and Preferments His Liberality great otherwise as occasion was offered And besides the many poor Scholars He kept many poor Scholars in his House whom he kept in his House till he could provide for them and prefer them as he did sundry to good Estates he also maintained divers in the University And maintained divers in the Universities at his own charge and gave liberally to them and others of any towardliness as he heard of their necessity and wants 107. He kept likewise for the exercise of Military Discipline a good Armory Is an incourager of Military Exercises and a fair Stable of great Horses insomuch as he was able to arm at all points both Horse and Foot and divers times had One hundred Foot and Fifty Horse of his own Servants mustered and trained for which purpose he entertained Captains He had also skilful Riders who taught them to manage their Horses and instructed them in warlike Exercises all whom he rewarded in liberal manner By this means he had divers of his own Gentlemen that afterwards proved good Soldiers many whereof became Captains and Commanders and some for their Valour and Service were Knighted in the Field There were also divers others that for Learning Languages and Qualities were fit to be employed by any Prince in Christendom Insomuch as his House for the Lectures and Scholastical Exercises therein performed might justly be accounted a little Academy and in some His House a little Academy respects superior and more profitable viz. for Martial Affairs and the Experience that Divines and other Scholars had being near and often at the Court and chief Seats of Justice from whence they continually had the Passages and Intelligences both for Matters of State and government in Causes Ecclesiastical and Civil By which their continual Experience many of his * Dr. Bancroft Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Ravis Bishop of London Dr. Barlow Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Goldisbury Bishop of Gloucester Dr. Parry Bishop of Worcester Dr. Redman Bishop of Norwich Dr. Buckeridge Bishop of Rochester Domestical His Chaplains promoted Chaplains both before and since his death attained unto the chiesest Honours and Dignities in our Church and Commonwealth 108. And here I may not forget his religious care and provident order for the due execution of his Charge and determination of all such Causes as belonged unto his proper cognizance and place To which end and purpose he appointed every Thursday in Term a solemn and set Commission day upon which he had a Sermon in his Chappel by one of his Houshold Chaplains and entertained the Commissioners and their Attendants though to his great expence which he little esteemed in regard of the well guiding and ordering the Affairs then by him undertaken That day you should have had a Senate of the worthiest and greatest Counsellors of State with the assistance of the chief Prelates Justices Judges and sufficientest Lawyers of both Professions that those Times afforded 109. You may then hereby observe the The Archbishop's care and wisdom in determining Causes Archbishop's exceeding care and singular wisdom in proceeding with the Advice of so many worthy prudent and learned Men of several Faculties whereby the Subjects came chearfully to the hearing of their Causes and without fear of partiality in any particular Person And howsoever the Cause went the Archbishop could not be impeached of rash or inconsiderate proceeding seeing he had the consent and approbation of all Professions For the Archbishop always gave Sentence and ordered matters as the greater part of the Court did encline beginning at the Junior first although himself would sometimes dissent from them in opinion and so he would tell them but without tartness yea in such kind and loving manner as no man was hindered in delivering his mind By which means he was sure always to have the Cause fully debated and every man's opinion fully known which when he found concurring with his own and the Proceedings ordered according to the Rules of Justice he would go on to sentence and determine the Cause 110. Wherein he carried himself His Resolution in Judgment with great resolution and courage were the Persons never so great that were interested in the same as you may perceive by one Instance among many when himself was yet no Counsellor of State A Gentleman of good Note seeing An Instance how the Court was enclined to order his Cause not according to his desire told the Archbishop that upon another occasion there grew some speech of that Cause before the Lords of the Council and their Lordships were of another opinion than his Grace and the rest of the Commissioners seemed to be what tellest thou me said the Archbishop of the Lords of the Council I tell thee they are in these Cases to be advised by us and not we by them He would upon such like Occasions oftentimes say unto his private Friends towards his latter time when they talked familiarly with him and observed his courage and stoutness That two things did help much to make a man confident in good Causes namely Orbitas Senectus and said he they steed me both 111. This orderly proceeding and He upholds the Dignity of the High Commission-Court course upheld the Reputation and Dignity of the Commission Court which albeit it be of great Authority and dealeth for the most part in matters of great weight and importance yet the want of worthy Assistants and Counsel if the like care should not be continued may make it grow to be of little reputation as experience hath somewhat taught us since the decease of this
was wrought in this An Account thereof out of Hacket's History Arthington's Prophesies Both Manuscripts manner as Hacket testifieth in that Discourse which they since call Hacket's History enlarged endited by himself written by Coppinger and afterward copied out fair by Arthington as it should have gone to the Press being annexed to Arthington's Prophesy For there it is said That the Lord brought Hacket to London about the beginning of Easter Term last to see what would be done against Job Throgmorton and partly to reckon with M. Wigginton about the making of malt between them together At what time Wigginton said That there was a Gentleman in the City a very good man but Hacket as the Lord knoweth did not think that there had been one godly man in the Land and supposed the Twelfth Psalm belonged to this time When Wigginton was describing the Man and the matter that he was entring into viz. that the Man whom he spoke of had a message to say to his Sovereign concerning some practice intended against her from dealing wherein the Preachers in London had wonderfully discouraged him then Hacket answered thus Did you so also No saith Wigginton Then said Hacket encourage him in any wise for what know you what matter it is he hath to say Hereupon Wigginton sent for the said Edmund Coppinger to come to the Counter to speak with him who by God's Providence came forthwith and Wigginton willed them to take acquaintance one of the other assuring Coppinger that he knew Hacket to be a man truly fearing God and such a Person as by whose Conference God might minister some comfort to Coppinger Whereupon they two viz. Coppinger and Hacket went from thence presently unto Hacket ' s Chamber at the Sign of the Castle without Smithfield-Bars So soon as they were entred the Chamber Coppinger desired that before any speech should pass between them they might first pray to God together which they did Hacket speaking to the Lord first After which Prayer Coppinger delivered unto Hacket how he had been very strangely and extraordinarily moved by God to go to her Majesty and to tell her plainly that the Lord's pleasure was that she must with all speed reform her self her Family the Common-wealth and the Church And that the Lord had further told him by what means all the same should be done but that Secret he would not then deliver unto Hacket Then Coppinger also prayed into God desiring him if he would be with him and bless that Business which he had committed to his charge that then he would both furnish him with Gifts fit for so weighty an Action and knit the heart of Hacket and his so together as David ' s and Jonathan ' s Moses ' s and Aaron ' s For answer hereof Hacket took further time till the morning at which time in the morning a Prayer being first made Hacket laid all the Lord's business which was to be done by himself upon Coppinger ' s back telling him the Lord had appointed him to it and would stand with him in it Thus far in this Point goeth that Discourse But long before this time of their two first Acquaintances Coppinger upon his return forth of Kent in Michaelmas Term last had signified unto Arthington and to one T. Lancaster a Schoolmaster in Shoe-lane both being of his familiar Acquaintance and whom he had requested to fast and pray Coppinger pretends to a secret Mystery revealed to him relating to the Discipline and the Queen's repentance about it with him for success in obtaining a Widow that God had shewed him the said Coppinger great favour by revealing such a secret Mystery unto him as was wonderful being in substance thus much viz. That he knew a way how to bring the Queen to repentance and to cause all her Council and Nobles to do the like out of hand or else detect them to be Traitors that refused All they by such Repentance meaning and understanding as it seemeth the erecting of their fanciful Discipline For this Phrase being usual with them in Conferences of this matter he thereby sufficiently declared his mind to them and they well understood what was meant without further a-do Now it had been inconvenient that Coppinger He imparts it to Wigginton should all this while conceal this Mystery which he imparted unto them and after to Hacket from Wigginton who brought them acquainted together unto whom he so oft resorted and so highly above all other Preachers esteemed for his resolute dealings in God's matters as he terms them whom he also after advouched unto Arthington as an irrefragable Witness to be persuaded by that would justify the truth of Hacket's Torments and whom he also knew more often busied for attaining of that Discipline which himself also laboured for than perhaps for Heaven it self And you see that he had accordingly done it Wigginton not discouraging him therein This Proposition so made by Coppinger Arthington and Lancaster mislike the matter as impracticable Arthington saith that he and Lancaster misliked as a matter impossible by Coppinger to be done but by the Lord Jesus only and such whereof the issue could not fall out well any way and so put him off for the first time not understanding in what manner and by what special means Coppinger conceived that such repentance should be wrought in the Queen's Majesty and in others The manner and other circumstances of the first revealing of this pretended Mystery Coppinger himself at large declareth in a Letter written the 4th of February last unto T. C. in Prison The occasion of writing it The manner and circumstances of revealing the Mystery Coppinger declares in a Letter to Cartwright then in Prison desiring an Answer to some Questions he there saith was the said T. C's offer to take knowledge by writing from him of such matter as might induce him to suppose himself to have received some hope of special favour from God to some special use But yet without warrant from the Word direction of the Holy Spirit and approbation of the Church he was he said most unwilling to enter into so great an Action The Letter is long but to this effect That upon some extraordinary humiliation of him he with some other and a Guide of their Exercise joined in a Fast Their Guide in the Evening spake of the use of Fasts c. and then willed the others to add to that which he had delivered either for the general or particular Causes which moved them to humble themselves That a great part of the said Night Coppinger found himself very extraordinarily exercised c. by such a motive as he could not well describe partly comforted with a wonderful Zeal which he found himself to have to set forth God's glory any ways which lawfully he might enter into partly cast down by such a burning fire of Concupiscence as in his greatest strength of body he had not found the like That the next day
make herein shall be upon thorns and therefore I am to fear pricking Yet for all this I am not without hope neither is the same grounded but by good warrant The end why I write unto you is this to intreat you to give thanks to those holy men all on my behalf who are now in question I have reaped much benefit from them by their carriage towards me though they know it not For I durst not in regard of danger which might grow Note to them visit any of them since I found my self carried with a zeal to do somewhat in the same Cause for which they suffer If by some effects hereafter I may shew it that is it which I desire to do and in the mean time do what I can to persuade the Saints that in this Action I seek God's glory and not mine own I have been heretofore put back and dissuaded from attempting any thing lest I marred all by the wisest the learnedest the zealousest and holiest Preachers of this City gene Causes and weighty Reasons moving thereunto But yet this will not make me leave it but still I am enforced by little and little to labour to make my self fit to take upon me the managing of it Wherefore if it please you to shew the other Letter and this and beseech them from me to lay them before the Lord when they shall meet and join together in prayer And if the Lord's Spirit shall assure their Spirits that he hath been is and will be with me in this Action how hard soever it seemeth to be let me by their means be vouchsafed this favour that I may be allowed conference with the Preachers of the City which Sute I make not for that I would seek to have approbation from them or any other living Creature but from God himself Or that I purpose to do that which heretofore I have been advised unto namely acquaint them with the Courses which I purpose by God's assistance to Note take in hand whereby great danger might grow to them and little good to me But that my carriage towards them may witness unto them the humility of my mind and lowliness of my spirit and care and conscience not to enter into the matter without offer to have my Gifts examined and if they shall be supposed to be such as the Church may have use of then let all holy means be used which shall be advised to be fit to be done in such a dangerous time and weighty Action So beseeching God to govern us in all our ways and preserve us in all our dangers and supply us with whatsoever we stand in need of I humbly and heartily commend you to God this 21st day of May 1591. The effect of the Speeches which Coppinger Coppinger incourageth the said Gentleman to persevere in defence of the Cause He declares to him his Revelations and extraordinary Gifts and Calling touching the Reformation of the Church had with him at their Conference as the said Gentleman himself reported was to commend the Cause of the Preachers committed to incourage him to the defence of it adding that it was the truth of God and that in the end it would prevail Then the said Coppinger began to declare unto him his Revelations his great fasting and prayer and how God had indued him with an extraordinary grace of Prayer Persuasion or Prophecy And that God had appointed him as he was persuaded to reveal the will of God touching the reformation of his Church that he had an extraordinary Calling to do good to the Church and what several conflicts he had in himself before he yielded to this extraordinary motion or calling from God Therefore his Request was That by He desires that his Gifts and Calling may be tried and allowed by the Preachers the said Gentleman's means his Gifts and Calling might be tried and allowed by those godly Preachers c. What the Preachers and others that were conferred with answered to Coppinger herein and whether more dutifully to the Estate than warily so as they might neither as they thought endanger themselves nor kill or discourage the Zeal of that their Brother in so pretended holy a Cause may partly by that which is afore spoken appear and we may then believe them when they shall tell us the whole truth thereof But how slender and cold discouragement A cold Answer from some he found with some Preachers of London with whom he dealt touching his fantastical extraordinary Calling and dangerous Plots may also appear by these words found in a Letter of his viz. Good Master L. as Master E's former carriage in this Action which standeth me much upon to deal advisedly in did somewhat trouble me so his Christian and loving Answer delivered now by you from him unto me doth much comfort me though by reason of some particular business which I must necessarily follow I cannot attend till Friday in the Afternoon or Saturday any part of the day And after in the same Letter thus Satan by his Angelical wisdom which he still retaineth doth many times prevail with the holiest to make them fear good success in the best Causes in regard of the lets and hindrances which himself layeth in the way It cannot be denied but that the Cause is good which I desire to be an Actor in But it is said by some that it is impossible that I should be fit to meddle therein So that here a Christian A further Conference The Course not misliked but Success only doubted from his unfitness and loving Answer to his great comfort is given further conference by speech is offered and the Course not so much misliked as the Success only is doubted by reason of his unfitness that was to be an Actor in it But what Resolution herein was also returned from the Preachers of Foreign Parts to this Case of Conscience propounded by Coppinger may hereby not unprobably be gathered Arthington at one of his Examinations confessed that Penry sent a Letter unto him forth of Scotland wherein he signified Penry writes to A thington from Scotland that Reformation must be set up in England that Reformation for so they speak must shortly be erected in England And herein he said that he took Penry to be a Prophet Now it is sure that Penry conveyed himself privily into England and was lurking about London at the self-same time when these other Prophets arose in Cheapside attending as seemeth the fulfilling of this his Prophecy also by their means How dutifully and advisedly those that be Subjects have dealt which having intelligence hereof did conceal it till it burst forth of it self with apparent danger to her Majesty and the whole State may thus be The concealing of this Design dangerous to the State gathered For by this Conceit of Coppinger's you hear it is pretended and surmised that a commendable Cause a Cause to be defended yea the very truth of God which must prevail
him see that they were all as drunken men and Fools without wit That in the end they should throw all their Books away and be at a great confusion one with another That afterward viz. about the beginning of Easter Term last the Lord brought him to London and how he was made acquainted with Coppinger at that time as hath been afore declared How after his departing out of the City from Coppinger he could not but remember him in his Prayers desiring the Lord to reveal himself extraordinarily to him so that he might be encouraged to go forward in the Action Whereupon as the said Coppinger affirmed he had two extraordinary Seals in very short space after Hacket ' s departure and was wonderfully strengthened to proceed in the Cause Then is told how the Lord commanded him to go from one place to another in and about the City for two days space and how he was commanded to rail against the said two great Counsellors in divers places where he came How being in that time commanded to see the Lyons in the Tower he took the fiercest of them by the Head and had none harm Then is told what Preachers in the City he heard and that going to hear one he saw a Surpless lie in the Church whereupon he would not stay there That he went to certain Preachers in Prison to command them to deal faithfully in the Lord's business And how he was commanded by God to deface the Arms of England in Kaye's House in Knight-Rider's-street Lastly It is said that God hath appointed two others to deal for and with Hacket whom it will stand upon to deal faithfully for the Lord for they know what Hacket is and what shall follow if their Counsels and Directions be not followed Now if any shall marvail how such an absurd and ridiculous lying Legend should seduce men of any consideration so earnest for a supposed Reformation and so exercised in praying and fasting let him remember not only the effectual but the efficacy it self of illusion and the spirit of slumber falling by God's secret yet always just Judgment upon the Children of disobedience such as be wise in their own conceits and not wise with sobriety that they might believe Lies because they have not believed the Truth And that they might ask and not obtain because they ask not as they ought After Arthington On Thursday morning had ended his aforesaid Treatise of Prophecy being the very day before their rising Coppinger told him that God the night before had enlightned him the said Coppinger who they all three were saying that Arthington had unawares prophesied truly for he was the greatest Prophet of God's Judgments against the whole World that ever was but that they both were greater than he for Coppinger himself was he said the greatest that ever was and last Prophet of mercy and that he must describe the new and holy Jerusalem with the several places of joy that the Elect should enjoy after this Life and that they the said Coppinger and Arthington were ordained to separate the Lambs from the Goats before the Lord Jesus at the last day Whereat it is said they were both astonished considering their own unworthiness and unfitness crying out against themselves and their Sins yet submitting themselves to the direction of God's Spirit which they were assured should sufficiently furnish them to do him that service which himself did command Then Coppinger proceeded to tell further That Hacket was greater than either of them and that they two must obey him in whatsoever he commanded but told not then what nor how great he was other than King of Europe which Title was afore this time concluded of amongst them Hereupon according to Coppinger's commandment Arthington offered to honour Hacket with his Title of the King of Europe and to demean himself toward him accordingly But Hacket himself herein dispensed with him until the time should come that he was to honour him before others bidding him withal to be of good cheer for faith he I serve a good Captain who makes so dear accompt of me that all the Devils in Hell nor Men in Earth cannot take my life from me Then Coppinger for confirmation of the like unto them two also said that Arthington and himself were possessed not only with Prophetical but also with Angelical Spirits which Arthington taking to be true by a great burning that he felt in himself after that time did thereupon fancy to himself that no power in Earth nor Hell could hurt either of them because they had the spirit of Angels and they were subject to no Power but to God alone And that God being the master of the whole Work all things should prosper with them they only seeking his glory which he faith he vowed with himself and to deal throughly in his Office to rebuke the World of Sin and to denounce Judgments against whomsoever the Spirit should move him without fear or favour of Men or of Devils in Hell which Spirit he faith then moved him according to his hatred afore conceived against them and his opinion that they were Trayors against the Queen's Majesty to utter and to declare his detestation he had against the aforesaid three worthy Counsellors being by their places the greatest Subjects in the Land But herein may be said with the Poet Quis tulerit Gracchos de seditione querentes Verrem de furto Who can with any patience indure such Seditious Companions as these to appeach others of Treason but especially so Loyal Honourable and Worthy Counsellors as they three are known to the World to be By the way we may note the subtil managing and carriage of this Action by Hacket and Coppinger in this one principal Point which Arthington himself also now observeth Videlicet in that they opened not at any time Hacket's chief pretended Office unto Arthington videlicet to represent and to participate with Jesus Christ's Office of severing with his Fan the good from the bad until the very time they were to go into the Streets to do the Message that Hacket enjoyned them For hereby they prevented a doubt of driving Arthington back who seemed a Man so serviceable for their purpose as that he was worthy to be still retained by them and the rather for that he had not yet finished the writing up of Hacket's History that was to be annexed to the Prophecy until late that Thursday night which was afore their rising for they might have feared if leisure had served him to have considered of it and examined it at full how this could be lest it might have made him at least to stagger and be doubtful of it Besides Hacket kept as Arthington now gathereth that honour wholly to himself to proclaim it to them both together as it were by a Voice from Heaven at that very instant when they should receive their charge of him and thereby have no time to reason against it being straightway to go forward as
I. other the common people themselves might every where have the free choice of sincere Ministers Another That Mortuaries might wholly be taken 2. away A Third That they might be disburdened of paying any Tithes to Ecclesiastical Persons but only Corn. And a Fourth That 4. they might also prescribe how these Tithes should be better employed Luther in an Answer that Luther calls this Sedition a Stratagem of Satan he made to that Book of theirs saith he conceived that this Sedition was a very Stratagem of Satan to the intent that the Devil might destroy and kill him and other true and sound Preachers of the Gospel by men making outward shew and profession of the same Religion because he saw he could not effect it nor so far prevail by open Adversaries such as the Pope was and his Adherents For these Rebels called themselves a Christian Congregation and bragged They call themselves a Christian Congregation and pretend to follow the precise Rule of God's Word much that they would in all their actions follow the precise Rule of God's Word And whereas under the pretence of detestation of sin and of their own great sincerity and good lives these Traiterous Rebels noted many Faults in all other sorts and states of men and protested also great Loyalty and Fidelity to the Persons of their Princes so they might but have things amiss reformed he freely and truly putteth them Luther winds them of their Pride and Hypocrisy in mind That whiles they pried thus narrowly into other mens faults the Devil had so blinded them through Pride and Hypocrisy that they could not see their own detestable Treasons with other their Sins and Impieties Adding also That such as wrest away or abate Princes Swords and Jurisdictions will upon any fit opportunity offered no doubt take away their Lives also which is chiefly maintained by their Sovereign Jurisdiction and by Power of the Sword Amongst others Carolastadius a Preacher Carolastadius one of their Encouragers professing the Gospel but fallen into discontentments and emulous oppositions against Luther gave no small advancement to this fearful Commotion This man attributed much to Cabinet Teachers in private Conventicles and unto Visions and pretended Conferences with God But of all other Preachers that pretended Enmity both to the Pope and unto Luther one Thomas Muncer Muncer the hottest and chiefest Leader He exhorts them to great strictness of Life was the hottest and chiefest Boutifeu and Bellows of this Sedition At first he urged and exhorted men in his teaching by a good space together and that with great vehemency unto a singular strait precise and holy course of life namely to fly all even the least shew of actual sin to fast much to array themselves with mean and base Rayment to retain a settled Austerity in Countenance to speak seldom and such like which he called the bearing of the Cross Mortification and Discipline Now when as hereby he had procured unto himself a great Opinion of Holiness and Reputation with the common People he proceeded further He broacheth dangeroas Opinions Teacheth men to pray for Signs and expect Visions from God unto strange and very dangerous Opinions For then he began to teach men in their Prayers to ask a Sign of God Whether they held the Truth in Religion or not That if he gave not a Sign they might importune him and expostulate with him that he dealt not well with them in not giving a Sign to them who in this sort begged but true knowledge of him saying that to shew such Anger in Prayer was acceptable unto God for that hereby men did shew their fervency in Zeal He taught also that God even in these days did reveal his Will by Dreams and Visions That all Judgments civil must be by the Bible or Revelation from God That all in dignity must be equal He railed against Princes and imputed Rails at Princes many faults unto them and namely this That they suffered the Ecclesiastical State with great Impiety This Opinion of Equality of Authority and Dignity made the common People fall from their Work and beginning to gad idly up and down they took away by violence such things as they had need of from those that were more wealthy Muncer in this sort winning many They enter into Leagues to root out wicked Magastrates unto him they entred from time to time into secret Leagues together upon mutual Oaths given to help to root out and kill all wicked Magistrates to the intent new that were more godly might be set in their places for so he said God had given in commandment unto him According to which Plots by a Tumult of the People at Mulhusin he procured the old Officer to be deposed and a new Magistrate to be set up in his place and himself to be chosen a Senator of that City albeit he was still a Preacher and seemed to mislike this course in other men Now when as by these and other like means great multitudes of men to the number of Forty thousand had taken up Arms throughout Franconia and Suevia then Forty thousand arm in Franconia and Suevia One Physer joins them he thought opportunity served him to set forward his purposes by adjoyning himself unto them and in this action one Phyfer a near Companion of his and like affected to him did also Joyn. But when the Rebellious Rout wanted Victuals and many other Necessaries whereby their courages began to Fail then he comforted them in his Sermons and assured them as from God that their Cause and Quarrel was so good that the Frame of the whole World should sooner be changed than they should be forsaken or left destitute of him And when the Prince's Army gathered to subdud them being greater and better furnished than theirs were was ready to joyn in battel he still most resolutely assured them of some evident miraculous help to be manifest from Heaven for the overthrow of their Enemies saying that God would so enfeeble all their Enemies Shot that Muncer himself would receive them all without harm into the Lap of his Coat before they should Light For a token hereof it happened that they had taken the Sign of a Rain-Bow for their Ensign He shewed A Rainbow is their Ensign a token of Victory them as it fell out the self same time a true Rain-Bow in Heaven as an undoubted sign that they should obtain the Victory Whereupon they courageously at first set forward singing a Song for aid by the Holy Ghost But being nevertheless all put in Rout and They are routed Muncer flies is taken be justifies the Fact discomfited Muncer fled away and disguised himself Yet by means of certain Letters that were found with him he was afterward in a House discovered and taken Being brought before the Magistrates he stoutly defended his fact affirming that Princes who refused to establish the purity of the Gospel were in that sort
to be bridled When he was brought to the place of Execution and saw no hope of Escape which before he hoped for he grew to be At his Execution is dejected and poplexed very much dejected and perplexed in Mind insomuch as without help of a Godly Prince which then stood by he could not repeat so much as the Articles of his Christian faith I shall not need to dwell long in the application The Story applied to our Disciplinarians and the Parallel alike in all particulars and resemblance of these points unto this late Tragedy the very reading of them over giving sufficient Light unto the same For the sharp and angry Zeal of some unadvised Preachers which pretend neither to like of the Pope nor of the present state of the Church for want of some purity as they fansy Hath it not incensed and made to boil over not only the foul Mouths of Martinists but also the traiterous actions of these Conspirators And albeit the common multitude whom the Disciplinarians brag to be already inflamed with Zeal ready to lend a hundred thousand hands for the advancement of their Cause and by whom they hope and say such Reformation must at last be brought in did better keep themselves out of this Action than was expected Yet the danger thereof was as great and if it had once taken head would happily as hardly as the other have been subdued Were not the Treaties of these men also in private Houses at Night-Fasts and the Consultations concerning it at Classical Conventicles and like Assemblies Did not these likewise shoot at the Overthrow of the whole State Ecclesiastical and at the displacing of her Majesty's most Honourable Council and that under pretence of Reformation and to advance the preaching of the Gospel in every Congregation throughout this Land Made not these the like Complaints of wicked Counsellors Noblemen and Magistrates for keeping out the Discipline for persecuting sincere Preachers and afflicting God's People like Lyons and Dragons And do they not pretend this to be a special Grievance of theirs That the common people of every Congregation may not elect their own Ministers That the People are brought under the Yoak of the Law Ceremonial by paying Tythes c. and is not the hand and head of Satan as plainly in this Action to seek the overthrow of sound Professors by others of the same Profession under pretence of greater Sincerity Do not these likewise almost appropriate to themselves and their Favourites the Terms of God's Church of Christian Brethren and of true and reformed Preachers Is any Speech more rise in their mouths than that they will only be tried and judged by God's Book and by his Spirit Do they not tax all other men not so far gone as themselves of loose Lives of Antichristianism of Hypocrisy and Idolatry in the mean time never looking at their own Treasons Disloyalties and other Vices Make they not great Ostentation of Love and Fidelity to her Majesty's Person and of Care of her Safety even when they secretly nourished a fancy of Forfeiture of her Crown and sought to over-rule her by Hacket their imagined Sovereign King of Europe Had they not their Cabinet Preachers their Table-end Teachers their Guides of Fasts c. that teach pray for and attend extraordinary Callings by Visions Dreams Revelations and Enlightnings Was not Giles Wigginton and some others unto them as Thomas Muncer and Phifer were to the Germans men of supposed great Austerity of Life Holiness Favour with God Resoluteness in his Cause Singleness and Uprightness of heart Did not Wigginton resolve them by Examples he gathered touching Extraordinary Callings in these days by reason of the great Waste of this Church of England Had not he and they likewise learned of the same Devil in the Prayers at Fasts to ask Signs and Seals of God for their extraordinary Callings Doth not Arthington say that he importuned God in his Prayers And Coppinger That he had leave given to talk more familiarly with God than afore Did not Hacket in praying for the pretended possessed Gentlewoman sawcily expostulate with God and charge him with his Promise as if he dealt not well with him Did he not at his Arraignment and Execution shew such Anger in his Prayers against God thinking belike as those did to be excused by his Fervency of Zeal Did not both he and Coppinger pretend Conference with God by sundry Revelations and Dreams Do not they and the rest of the Disciplinarian Humour Fenneritheol exact and seek to square out even in Hypothesi all Civil Policies and Judgments in Causes Criminal especially unto the Judicials of Moses given for the People of the Jews Is there any thing they stand more upon or condemn the contrary deeper than to have an Equality among all Persons Ecclesiastical Do they not inveigh sharply against Prince and Nobles for upholding the State Ecclesiastical and in this respect intended to have them brought to Repentance when their Opinions grew to a Ripeness Was not this their principal pretended purpose to plant the Gospel and their Reformation by rooting out wicked Magistrates and Counsellors as they judged and by setting others in their places Did Hacket's fancied Fan instead of Christ to sever the good from the bad import any thing else or should it have served any other turn than for the killing up of all that thought not well of their Discipline and Reformation Did they not pretend the Will of the Lord so to be And was it not plainly meant this to be effected by tumult of the common people Did not these likewise bear one another in hand that all things should succeed and prosper with them that no violence could harm them nor any man had power to hurt them as having Angelical Spirits and being in most high favour with God And Hacket accordingly even in going to execution did he not call for and expect a miraculous deliverance from heaven out of the hands of those whom he called his enemies Did he not likewise for a certain sign of his favour with God make Coppinger believe that he could and did obtain rain and could stay it at his pleasure Was not the chiefest of their plots and conspiracies detected by their letters found with them Did not they likewise when they were convented before the Magistrate stoutly and resolutely defend their dealings and maintain that the Princess had for seited her right and was now to be bridled and over-ruled by others and lastly Was not that impious Wrech Hacket as irresolute dejected and base-minded towards his death as Muncer or any man either could be or as so bad a cause might procure Not long after those former Rebellions in Another like Commotion of the Anabaptist's in Munster Germany another strange and memorable Commotion happened in Munster the principal City of Westphalia a Province also of Germany which is not unmeet to be in some points also touched in this place for the
Lincoln the space of seven years so long as he remained in Cambridge 34. By his Government in Trinity Norwich Redman Worcester Babbington St. David ' s Rud. Glocester Golsborough Hereford Benet College he made many excellent Scholars that came afterwards to great Preferment in the Church and Common-wealth five whereof were in his time Bishops that then were Fellows of the College when he was Master and some of them his Pupils besides many Deans and others of Dignity and Estimation in the Church at this day 35. He had divers Earls and Noblemens Several Noblemen c. his Pupils Sons to his Pupils as namely the Earls of Worcester and Cumberland the Lord Zouch the Lord Dunboy of Ireland Sir Nicholas and Sir Francis Bacon now his Majesty's Solicitor General in whom he took great comfort as well for their singular Towardliness as for their observance of him and performance of many good Offices towards him All which Their respects towards him together with the rest of the Scholars of that House he held to their publick He holds the Scholars strictly to their Exercises and Devotion Disputations and Exercises and Prayers which he never missed chiefly for Devotion and withal to observe others absence always severely punishing such Omissions and Negligences 36. He usually dined and supped in the Common Hall as well to have a watchful Eye over the Scholars and to keep them in a mannerly and awful obedience as by his Example to teach them to be contented with a Scholar-like College Diet. 37. The sway and Rule he then did bear through the whole University the Records themselves will sufficiently testify for by his meer travail and labour and the Credit which he had with her Majesty and the Lord Burghly then Lord Treasurer of England and Chancellor of Cambridge he procured an alteration and amendment of the Statutes Procures amendment of the University Statutes of the University In which kind of Affairs and Business all the Heads of the Houses were directed and advised by him as from an Oracle For commonly whatsoever he spake or did they still concurred with him and would do nothing without him 38. He never took the foil at any man's hands during his ten years continuance in Trinity College being therein not unlike unto Pittacus in his Diog. Laert. de vita Philosoph ten years Government of Mitilene Cui nunquam per id tempus contigit in aliquâ causâ quam in se susciperet cadere For as the Causes he dealt in were always just so his Success was ever prosperous wherein his singular Wisdom was to be noted and his Courage and His Wisdom and Courage Stoutness in his Attempts were observed of the greatest and the general Fame thereof remaineth yet fresh in the University and will continue as his Badge and Cognizance so long as his Memory lasteth And yet that Stoutness of his was so well tempered and mingled with his other Virtue of Mildness and Patience His Moderation Mr. Hooker's Character of him in his Eccles Policy that Master Hooker made this true observation of him He always governed with that moderation which useth by patience to suppress boldness and to make them conquer that suffer which I think well suted with his Posey or Motto Vincit Qut Patitur 39. The first Wound which those fervent Reprehenders received at Doctor Whitgift's hands and his prudent order of Government together with his singular gift in Preaching made his Fame spread and gained him so great estimation that her Majesty was pleased to make choice Whitgift's esteem with the Queen Consecrated Bishop of Worcester April 21. 1577. of him before many others of eminent Place in the Church to be Bishop of Worcester Upon which his Advancement he first took his leave of the whole University by a publick Sermon which he preached in St. Mary's Church wherein he exhorted them to peace And afterwards by a private Sermon in Trinity College he gave unto that Society such a godly and learned Exhortation Takes leave of the University with an Exhortation to Peace and Unity for their continuance and constancy in peace and unity as it so moved their Affections that they burst out into Tears insomuch that there were scarce any dry Eyes to be found amongst the whole number He chose for his Text the same Farewel which St. Paul gave to the Corinthians Finally brethren fare His Farewel-Text 2 Cor. 13. 11. you well Be perfect be of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you 40. IN June following he was attended Sets out for Worcester June 1697. attended with the Heads of Houses c. and accompanied on his way from Cambridge towards Worcester with a great Troop of the Heads and others of choice account in the University and with exceeding lamentation and sorrow of all sorts for the loss they conceived they had of so worthy a Governor 41. But their grief for the loss of The Queen forgives his First-fruits and gives him the disposal of all the Prebends of that Church him was not so great as was the joy of them who had found him amongst whom it pleased her Majesty to grace his very first entrance both in forgiving him his First-fruits a Princely and extraordinary Bounty as also in bestowing on him for the better encouragement and provision of his Chaplains and other learned men about him the disposing of all the Prebends of that Church of Worcester during his continuance there 42. He found the Bishoprick at his He finds the Bishoprick impaired by Grants of long Leases first coming much impaired by his Predecessors granting away in long Leases divers Manors Parks and Mansion-houses But that which much troubled him and wherein he most of all stirred Particularly the Rent-Corn of Two of the best Mannors Hollow and Grimly was the letting to Master Abington Cofferer to the late Queen the Rent-corn of his two best Manors Hollow and Grimley which is the chief upholding of the Bishop's Hospitality and without which especially in dear Years he is not able to keep House This Lease being let to Master Abington a great Man then to contend withal his Wife also being sometimes the Queen's Bedfellow the Bishop notwithstanding did He questions the said Lease call it in question having now besides his Honourable Friends the Lord Keeper and the Lord Treasurer gained by his attendance at Court many more about her Majesty who much favoured him and professed great love unto him especially the Earl of Leicester Sir Christopher Hatton Vice-Chamberlain Has great Friends at Court and Sir Francis Walsingham Principal Secretary all in special grace with her Highness Master Abington by his Wife's greatness procured her Majesty's gracious Letters written very earnestly in his behalf The Bishop returning Satisfies the Queen answer unto her Majesty and enforming her by means of his honourable Friends how
it is pacified by the Archbishop so offended his Friends having laboured exceedingly therein on his behalf that being then Lord General of her Majesty's Forces in France he made open profession of his dislike of the Archbishop But upon his return into England finding how firm her Majesty stood for him and that his stirring in the matter must needs call in question her Majesty's Judgment did therefore in a temperate manner expostulate the matter with the Archbishop from whom he received such an Answer as he knew not well whom to be angry withal unless with the Queen her self who thought him too young a man being yet no Counsellor for so grave a Title and fearing happily lest if she should have committed the guiding of that University unto his young Years and unexperienced Judgment some hot and unruly Spirits there like Phaeton's untamed Horses might have carried him in such an headlong course of government as that the sparks of Contention which were then scarce kindled in that University might have broken forth into open flames to the utter destruction and devastation of the whole State Ecclesiastical And besides this she held the Lord Buckhurst being an ancient Counsellor and her Kinsman more fit for the Place a great deal And so much it seemed the Queen had told The Queen justifies the Archbishop to Essex the Earl in justification of the Archbishop before his questioning of the matter with him for in effect he acknowledged so much and thereupon they parted in no unkind terms but with due respect of each other in very friendly manner The Queen not long after She makes them firm Friends was the mean of their entring into further Friendship having oftentimes recommended unto the Archbishop the Earl's many excellent Parts and Vertues which she thought then rare in so young Years And the Earl likewise confessed to the Archbishop that her Majesty's often speech of her extraordinary opinion of him and his worth was the cause of his seeking after the Archbishop and therefore did offer to run a course for Clergy Causes according to his directions and advice and to cast off the Novelists as indeed he did immediately after Sir Francis Walsingham's Sir Francis Walsingham died Apr. 6. 1590. The Archbishop's firmness to Essex in his Troubles death which was a special cause of the Archbishop's constancy and firmness to the Earl in his disgrace and trouble afterwards 83. But now to return to our former course The Lord Chancellor's death much troubled and perpexed the Archbishop The Archbishop fears on the Lord Chancellor's death fearing that new Troubles would befal him and the Church Howbeit things were then so well and firmly setled that he had no great ado afterwards saving with their dispersing New Pamphlets dispersed by the Puritans of Pamphlets and that some few Persons though thanks be to God not powerful both in Court and Country Attempts in Parliament on their behalf did attempt as much as in them lay by motions in Parliament and Bills there preferred to bring in I know not nor they themselves what kind of new Government in the Church but were prevented by the Wisdom of her Majesty who always suppressed those Bills and Motions and still comforted the Archbishop who was oftentimes The Queen comforts the Archbishop with fresh Assurances of her Countenance and Favour to the Church much grieved with their causeless Complaints and assured him they should not prevail to do any hurt except it were to hurt themselves For she did see in her Princely wisdom how dangerous they were to her and all Imperial Government And when she found them still bent to pursue such Bills and Motions she to deliver the Archbishop from farther trouble and vexation before it was expected and as it were with silence brake up the Parliament 84. AFter the death of Sir Christopher Sir John Puckering Lord Keeper June 4. 1592. Hatton Sir John Puckering was made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England of whom because he lived not long I shall not have occasion to say much But for ought that I ever Upon Hatton ' s death the Queen offered the Archbishop his Place But he declined it because of his Age and Ecclesiastical Business Sir Thomas Egerton made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal May 6. 1596. heard he shewed himself a Friend to the Church unto the Archbishop and his Proceedings and acknowledged him to have been amongst his other good Friends a Furtherer of his Advancement 85. Sir Thomas Egerton Master of the Rolls succeeded him May 6. 1596. Her Majesty and the State had long experience of his Integrity and Wisdom as may appear by the great Places which he worthily held being first her Highness's Sollicitor and then Attorney General In which time besides his many great and weighty Services he was very careful and industrious in labouring earnesty to suppress the aforesaid Libellers a lover of Learning and a most constant Favourer of the Clergy and Church Government He is a constant Friend to the Church before and after his Advancement established as also a faithful loving Friend to the Archbishop in all his Affairs insomuch as after his advancement to that Honour and that the Earl of Essex and the Archbishop concurred together being also out of the affection of his most honourable Friend the Lord Burghley Lord Treasurer further strengthned by the friendship The Archbishop cherished and strengthened by union of many Friends and love of Sir Robert Cecyll principal Secretary and now Earl of Salisbury and Lord Treasurer of England he began to be fully revived again and as well fortified by them as ever he was when he was most and best friended And her Majesty finding in him a zealous care and faithful performance of his duty and service towards the Church and her Highness shook off those Clergy Cares and laid the burthen The Queen throws the whole care of the Church upon him of them upon his Shoulders telling him That if any thing went amiss be it upon his Soul and Conscience to answer it for she had rid her hands and looked that he should yield an account on her behalf unto Almighty God 86. And now though the Archbishop He disposeth of Bishopricks and all other Ecclesiastical Promotions was in this singular favour and grace with her Majesty so that he did all in all for the managing of Clergy-Affairs and disposing of Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical Promotions yet was he never puffed up with Pride His great Humility and Lenity nor did any thing violently by reason of his Place and greatness with her Majesty against any man For he ever observed this Rule that he would not wound where he could not salve And I leave to the report of the Adversaries themselves when he had that sway in Government and favour with her Highness whether his Carriage were not exceeding mild and temperate and whether he did not endeavour
Papists as fearing lest they conceived an hope of advancing their Cause and Quarrel by help of the aforesaid Contentions betwixt the Bishops and these Sectaries and so soon as they should have found the Forces on both sides sufficiently weakned and enfeebled by a long continuance of the Conflict to have destroyed the Vanquished with the Vanquishers whereby to re establish their Papal Jurisdiction and superstitious Impieties as not long after this Archbishop's death they attempted to do by the divelish Device of that damnable Powder-Treason which if it had succeeded their intendment then was to have put both alike to the Sword 99. You may perceive by the Premisses He is unjustly traduced by the Sectaries how untruly some of the uncharitable and precipitate Sectaries traduced him for a Papist and called him The Pope of Lambeth in their Libels and Conventicles and most unjustly reproached him with the Title of Doctor Pearn ' s Servant whom they likewise taxed with Popery and falsly charged him to have infected the Archbishop therewith because of his affection and love unto him for the reasons specified before The truth is as the Archbishop was of his own nature a very loving kind man so he did hate ingratitude He hated Ingratitude in any and could never be taxed with that fault He was likewise as the Gentlemen of Worcestershire and Kent had daily experience very firm Is firm in his Friendships and marvailous constant where he affected and professed love which brought him in great displeasure in the Cause of the late Earl of Essex with whose Life and Actions though I have nothing to do having only taken upon me to report another Man's yet thus much I may truly say that his misfortune drew upon the Archbishop the greatest discontentment and severest reprehension Censured for his affection to the Earl of Essex from her Majesty that he had ever before undergone in all his life 100. For after that the Earl began to fall upon Courses displeasing and distastful unto her Majesty nevertheless such was the confidence the Archbishop had in the Earl's Loyaly and his own stedfastness in that Friendship which he had formerly professed unto him that he could not be drawn from being a continual Intercessor for him wherewith her Majesty was so highly displeased The Queen displeased at his inter cession for the Earl which much grieves him and so sharply rebuked him for the same that the good old Archbishop came sometimes home much grieved and perplexed 101. Within a while after the Earl forgetting that unto Princes the highest Tacit. Annal lib 4 judgment of things is given and unto us the glory of obedience is left went out indeed The Archbishop being that Sunday Earl of Essex apprehended Feb. 8. 1600. Morning at the Court whether by direction or by his own accord I know not hastned home without any Attendant and commanded as many men as he then had in the House to be presently armed and sent them over unto the Court but not to go within the Gates until Master Secretary Cecill or some other by his instruction should appoint them a Leader There were immediately The Archbishop arms his Servants for the Queen's defence presented unto him Threescore men well armed and appointed who with a Message from the Archbishop shewed themselves before the Court of whose arrival there Master Secretary Cecill with the rest of the Lords of the Council were right glad and said he Well taken at Court was a most worthy Prelate They had speedily a Leader appointed unto them and marched presently and were the first that entred into the Gates of Essex-house and in the first Court made good the place until the Earl yielded himself Earl of Essex brought to Lambeth-house then sent to the Tower and was by the Lord Admiral brought to Lambeth-house where he remained an hour or two and was from thence conveyed to the Tower The Archbishop had likewise in readiness that Afternoon Forty Horsemen well appointed and expected Directions from the Court how to dispose of them The next Morning he sent a Gentleman to know how the Queen did and how she rested all night To whom she made answer that she rested and slept the better for his care the day before but I beshrew his heart said she he would not believe this of Essex though I had often told him it would one day thus come to pass 102. After this when her Majesty understood that her own recommendation of the Earl had wrought that good The Archbishop in the Queen 's good opinion and favour to her dying-day opinion of him in the Archbishop and that she now found his readiness for her defence with Horse and Men and the nearness thereof unto the Court to stand her at that time in great stead she began to entertain him in her wonted favour and grace again and ever after continued her good opinion of him unto her dying day 103. Towards which time though Queen Elizabeth died March 24. 1602. The Archbishop Dr. Bancroft Dr. Watson Dr. Parry attend the Queen in her Sickness by reason of her melancholy Disease she was impatient of others speeches with her yet was she well pleased to hear the Archbishop the then Bishops of London and Chichester and the now Bishop of Worcester with some other Divines give her comfort and counsel to prepare her self to God-ward and most devoutly prayed with them making signs and tokens unto her last remembrance of the sweet comfort which she took in their presence especially when towards her end they put her in mind of the unspeakable Joys she was now going unto where no doubt she remaineth a glorious Saint of God and as a most religious Prince rewarded with a Crown of Immortality and Bliss 104. NOW the much-lamented The Faction take heart on the Queen's death death of this noble Queen gave great hope to the Factious of challenging forth with all exemption from the Censures and subjection of Ecclesiastical Authority But how vain their hopes were the issue hath declared and although the Archbishop was much dejected and grieved for the loss of his dear Sovereign and Mistress who had so highly advanced him yet he with the rest of the Lords repaired immediately to Whitehall and after two hours sitting in Council about the penning of the Proclamation he principally as his Place required with a chearful countenance and the rest of the Lords in like sort accompanying him first at the Court-gate at White-hall with the applause and unspeakable comfort of all the People proclaimed her most rightful Successor JAMES then King James proclaimed King of England March 24. 1602. King of Scotland King of England France and Ireland Afterwards in like chearful sort the Archbishop with the rest of the Lords trooped up to the Cross in Cheapside and there with like acclamation of the Lord Mayor and Citizens Sir Robert Leighe Lord Mayor The People are
good Archbishop Whereunto not unaptly may be applied that which Plutarch reporteth Plutarch in vita of Cato Utican When he was Praetor For he would oftentimes go on foot bare legged and without his Gown unto his Praetorian Chair and there give sentence of life and death whereby he rather defaced and impaired the majesty and dignity of his Office than gave it countenance by his manner of proceeding although otherwise he were a good Commonwealth's man and ministred justice uprightly unto all 112. But I return unto our Archbishop His dispatch of Causes to great satisfaction again He gave audience unto Suitors twice a day and afforded them set hours for their dispatch at which time he would so courteously entreat them giving them so mild and gentle Answers that even they that sped not of their Suits did depart without discontentment Wherein I may justly compare him unto Titus qui neminem Sueton. in vita unquam à se tristem dimisit he dismissed no man sorrowful from his presence Wherefore he gave also express commandment unto his Officers that Suitors and Strangers should ever be courteously entertained as well for expedition of their Suits as for Hospitality sake 113. He had a desire always to keep His great Hospitality a great and bountiful House and so he did having the same well ordered and governed by his head Officers therein and all things in plentiful manner both for his own service and entertainment of Strangers according to their several Qualities and Degrees He often feasted the Clergy Nobility and Gentry of his Diocess and Neighbourhood And at Christmas especially his Gates were always open and his Hall set twice or thrice over with Strangers Upon some chief Festival-days he was served with great solemnity sometime upon the Knee as well His State for the upholding of the State that belonged unto his Place as for the better education and practice of his Gentlemen and Attendants in point of service 114. Every Year he entertained the His entertainment of the Queen Queen at one of his Houses so long as he was Archbishop and some Years twice or thrice where all things were performed in so seemly an order that she went thence always exceedingly well pleased And besides many publick and gracious Favours done unto him she would salute him and bid him farewell by the name of Black Husband calling also his Men her Servants as a token of her good contentment with their attendance and pains 115. Every third Year he went into He was always honourably received by the Gentlemen of the Country Kent unless great occasions hindred him where he was so honourably attended upon by his own Train consisting of Two hundred Persons and with the Gentlemen of the Country that he did sometimes ride into the City of Canterbury and into other Towns with Eight hundred or a Thousand Horse And surely the Entertainment which he gave them and they him was so great that as I am verily persuaded no Shire in England did or could give greater or with more chearful minds each unto other The Fatherly care which he had of his Clergy whom he never charged with visitation but once in twenty Years his Affability amongst the Gentlemen and courteous usage of his Tenants gained him so great a love that he might very far prevail with them yea they never denied him any request that he made unto them 116. At his first Journey into Kent His first journey into Kent July 1589. with pomp and solemnity he rode to Dover being attended with an hundred of his own Servants at least in Livery whereof there were forty Gentlemen in Chains of Gold The Train of Clergy and Gentlemen in the Country and their Followers was above Five hundred Horse At his entrance A Romish Intelligencer accidentally lands he admires the Appearance and owns a mistaken prejudice concerning the meanness of our Church into the Town there happily landed an Intelligencer from Rome of good Parts and Account who wondred to see an Archbishop or Clergy-man in England so reverenced and attended But seeing him upon the next Sabbath day after in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury attended upon by his Gentlemen and Servants as is aforesaid also by the Dean Prebendaries and Preachers in their Surplesses and scarlet Hoods and heard the solemn Musick with the Voices and Organs Cornets and Sagbuts he was overtaken with admiration and told an English Gentleman of very good quality who then accompanied him That Sir Edward Hobby they were led in great blindness at Rome by our own Nation who made the People there believe that there was not in England either Archbishop or Bishop or Cathedral or any Church or Ecclesiastical Government but that all was pulled down to the ground and that the People heard their Ministers in Woods and Fields amongst Trees and bruit Beasts But for his own part he protested that unless it were in the Pope's Chappel he never saw a more solemn sight or heard a more heavenly sound Well said the English Gentleman I am glad of this your so lucky and first sight ere long you will be of another mind and I hope work miracles when you return to Rome in making those that are led in this blindness to see and understand the truth It is said the Intelligencer the chief cause of my coming to see with mine own eyes and truly to inform others Whereupon the said English Gentleman accompanied him to London and so to the Court where he saw and heard many things to confirm the Gentleman's report for the government of the Church and civil carriage of the People in their obedience to the Clergy and Magistrates in the Commonwealth Afterwards this Intelligencer had private The Intelligencer had private speech with Secretary Walsingham speech with Sir Francis Walsingham then principal Secretary to her Majestey who related all this to the Archbishop with due approbation of his Kentish Journy confessing that he should reverence and honour him therefore while he lived And although he were one of the honourable Counsellors before mentioned that seemed to favour the precise Faction yet undoubtedly he was after this time a kind Friend to the Archbishop and did him many good Offices with the Queen 117. Howbeit some of near alliance unto Sir Francis bearing themselves very boldly upon his favour would oftentimes handle the Archbishop very roughly and much provoke him by vain Speeches and brags of their own worth and scholarship and being meer Lay-men would very unmannerly compare themselves with the best conformable Divines for true knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures But the Archbishop smiling at their Vanities would notwithstanding courteously handle and entreat them in his own House according to the true Rule of Hospitality not unlike unto Pericles who being reviled by a leud Plutarch â—n vit Fellow in the Market-place all the day long returned no bad languge but dispatched his Affairs
These Stirs set on foot at the time of the Spanish Invasion 1588. Ib. The Archbishop's preparation for Defence of his Prince and Country 64 The whole Clergy of his Province Armed Ib. Cartwright the Head of the Puritan Party Ib. Hacket Coppinger and Arthington resort to him 65 Penry and Udall his Consorts Ib. Cartwright's words in the Articles in the Star-Chamber Ib. The Disciplinarians Decree about Books to be printed Ib. Barrow and Greenwood infected by Cartwright 66 Bishop Ravis's Conference with Barrow and Greenwood 1592. Ib. Bishop Androws and Bishop Parrey with others their Conference with Barrow and Greenwood 67 Barrow's Vain-glorious Answer 68 The danger of Innovation Ib. Cartwright withdraws privately 69 Brown the Author of a New Sect of that Name 70 His Positions little differing from Barrow and Greenwood Ib. The Archbishop suppresseth many Schisms and also Controversies in the Universities Ib. He procures Cartwright's Pardon of the Queen Ib. Cartwright's Letters March 24. 1601. acknowledging the Archbishop's Favour 71 The Archbishop tolerates Cartwright to preach publickly without Conformity Ib. The Queen requires his Subscription 72 Cartwright dies Rich Ib. The Earl of Essex favours the Puritans as far as he durst Ib. Upon timely execution of the Laws the state of the Church at quiet 73 Sir Christopher Hatton died Novemb. 20. 1591. Ib. Lord Buckhurst chosen Chancellor of Oxford on the Queen's Letters Ib. Earl of Essex offended at it is pacified by the Archbishop Ib. The Queen justifies the Archbishop to Essex 74 She makes them firm Friends 75 Sir Francis Walsingham died Apr. 6. 1590. Ib. The Archbishop's firmness to Essex in his Troubles Ib. The Archbishop fears on the Lord Chancellor's death Ib. New Pamphlets dispersed by the Puritans 76 Attempts in Parliament on their behalf Ib. The Queen comforts the Archbishop with fresh Assurances of her Countenance and Favour to the Church Ib. Sir John Puckering Lord Keeper June 4. 1592. Ib. Upon Hatton's death the Queen offered the Archbishop his Place But he declined it because of his Age and Ecclesiastical Business 77 Sir Thomas Egerton made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal May 6. 1596. Ib. He is a constant Friend to the Church before and after his Advancement Ib. The Archbishop cherished and strengthened by union of many Friends 78 The Queen throws the whole care of the Church upon him Ib. He disposeth of Bishopricks and all other Ecclesiastical Promotions Ib. His great Humility and Lenity Ib. The Earl of Salisbury's Observation on him 80 Many favoured and eased by the Archbishop's intercession Ib. The wisdom of the Queen in her moderate Government 81 The Archbishop follows her Example Ib. The Arcbishop a great lover and encourager of Learned and Virtuous Clergy 83 Was bountiful to Foreigners of Learning and Quality Ib. Theod. Beza his Letters to the Archbishop March 8. 1591. Ib. Approving the Policy of the English Church Ib. Beza his high commendation of the Church of England 84 His great respect to the Archbishop Ib. The Archbishop's kindness and charity to Foreign Divines of the Reformation 85 His backwardness to censure other mens Gifts and Performances 86 The Archbishop a constant Preacher when publick Affairs would admit 87 Had an excellent Tallent in Preaching Ib. Learned eloquent and judicious Ib. His Gesture grave and decent without affectation Ib. Of great Integrity and unspotted Life 88 He wrote the Notes of his Sermons Ib. Disapproved trusting only to Memory Ib. When at Worcester he treated the Recusants mildly and won many of them over 89 When he came to be Archbishop he dealt with the Learnedst of them by Authority Ecclesiastical Ib. He kept a straight hand over the Seminary Priests and subtle Papists 90 He is unjustly traduced by the Sectaries 91 He hated Ingratitude Ib. Is firm in his Friendships Ib. Censured for his affection to the Earl of Essex 92 The Queen displeased at his intercession for the Earl which much grieved him Ib. Earl of Essex apprehended Feb. 8. 1600. Ib. The Archbishop arms his Servants for the Queen's defence 93 Well taken at Court Ib. Earl of Essex brought to Lambeth-house then sent to the Tower Ib. The Archbishop in the Qucen's good opinion and favour to her dying-day 94 Queen Elizabeth died March 24. 1602. Ib. The Archbishop Dr. Bancroft Dr. Watson Dr. Parry attend the Queen in her Sickness Ib. The Faction take heart on the Queen's death 95 King James proclaimed King of England March 24. 1602. 96 The People are pleased at the Archbishop's presence in proclaiming the King Ib. Archbishop a lover and incourager of Liberal Arts Ib. His Liberality great 97 He kept many poor Scholars in his House Ib. And maintained divers in the Universities Ib. Is an incourager of Military Exercises Ib. His House a little Academy 98 His Chaplains promoted Ib. The Archbishop's care and wisdom in determining Causes 99 His Resolution in Judgment 100 An Instance 101 He upholds the Dignity of the High Commission-Court Ib. His dispatch of Causes to great satisfaction 102 His great Hospitality 103 His State Ib. His entertainment of the Queen Ib. He was always honourably received by the Gentlemen of the Country 104 His first journey into Kent July 1589. with pomp and solemnity 105 A Romish Intelligencer accidentally lands he admires the Appearance and owns a mistaken prejudice concerning the meanness of our Church Ib. The Intelligencer had private speech with Secretary Walsingham 106 The Archbishop's good nature 108 His good Works in Lincoln Worcester Wales Kent Surry 110 Boys Sisi the French Embassador his opinion and speech of Archbishop Whitgift 111 His love to Croydon for retirement 112 Chearful and affable in his Family Ib. Liberal to his Servants Ib. Bountiful to the industrious Poor and to the Disabled and Necessitous 113 After the manner of Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln his usage of his Kinsman Ib. Dr. Nevill Dean of Canterbury sent by the Archbishop and Clergy into Scotland to King James 115 The King's Answer that he would uphold the Church comforts the Archbishop Ib. Queen Elizabeth's Funeral Apr. 28. 1603. very sumptuously performed Ib. The Archbishop the chief Mourner 116 King James gives him personal assurance of preserving the setled State of the Church Ib. King Jame's Coronation July 25. 1603. by the hands of the Archbishop Ib. Queen Ann also crown'd at the same time Ib. The Conference at Hampton-Court Jan. 14. 1603. betwixt the Bishops and the Puritans in the King's presence 117 The King satisfied with the Bishops Reasonings Ib. And orders the reprinting the Liturgy Ib. A Parliament comes on 118 The Bishops have a meeting at Fulham Ib. The Archbishop 73 years old is seized with a Cold on the Water Ib. Goes to Court has speech with the King about Affairs of the Church 119 Is taken with a dead Palsey Ib. Conveyed to Lambeth Ib. The King visits him Ib. He earnestly recommends the Church to his Royal Care 120 He departs this Life Feb. ult 1603. 121 He was Bishop
of to bring them to pass which they hoped to stir up by their pretence of so great holiness with calling the Realm to repentance in the open Streets of London by offering joys and mercy to the Penitent and by their Proclamation also then made in Cheapside as hereafter cometh to be declared Now that these their two last Purposes were indeed the principal and main ends which they propounded to themselves besides that which by the way is noted already and that which comes hereafter to be mentioned let these few Proofs ensuing suffice First for the alteration of the whole Government Ecclesiastical and erecting of the new Discipline It is confessed that Coppinger Coppinger and Arthington two false Prophets their words to Wigginton the day before the Insurrection and Arthington the two Counterseit Prophets on the 16th of July last being Friday and the self-same day that they arose in Cheapside told Wigginton in the morning these words amongst many others viz. That Reformation and the Lord's Discipline should now forthwith be established and therefore charged Wigginton in the Lord's name to put all Christians in comfort that they should see a joyful alteration in the state of Church-Government shortly To which words Wigginton made no reply nor further demand as of any matter strange unto him how it was so shortly to be compassed Wherein may also be observed that these kind of Persons do reckon and term only those Christians that will take comfort and joy at such an Alteration So that by their Opinions it skilleth not what be attempted or done against all others being but as Heathens and Paynims or at least Idolaters Thus much with their seditious Purposes Their Seditious Purposes appear in Coppinger's Letter to Udal then condemned for writing the Demonstration of Discipline also is plainly implied in a dangerous Letter written by the said Coppinger since Easter last unto one John Udal a condemned man for Felony in the White Lyon in Surrey for writing of the Book termed the Demonstration of Discipline That Letter beginneth thus Right Reverend Sir my forbearing to visit you and the rest of the Saints who suffer for Righteousness sake do give you all cause to think that I have forsaken my first Love and have embraced the God of this World But my Conscience beareth me witness of the contrary The Reasons of my absence being so great and so weighty that hereafter when they shall be examined by your selves who are endued with the spirit of wisdom and discerning of Spirits I doubt not but Note you will allow of my not coming which might bring you into more trouble and danger than it would do me good or breed me comfort And afterward thus You have care and conscience to further the building of the Lord's House which lieth waste and to seek the final overthrow of Antichrist's Kingdom which being the Lord 's own work he will bless it and all the Actors in it And this I dare be bold of mine own knowledge to report that in this great Work he hath divers that lie hid and are yet at liberty who are hammering their heads busying their brains and spending their spirits in prayers to God as much as you or any of you that are in Prison Note and hope in short time to be brought forth into the sight of their and your Enemies to defend the Cause you stand for And again afterward in this wise I beseech you cheer up your selves in the Lord for the day of our Redemption is at hand and pray that the Hand of the Lord may be strengthened Note in them whom he hath appointed to take part with you in this Cause and beseech him that blessing may be upon Sion and confusion upon Babel Pardon my long Letter I beseech you and impart mine humble suit to all the rest to whom I neither dare write nor offer to see I neither put to my Name nor make Subscription The Bringer can report who sendeth the Letter and let that suffice Furthermore that they hated deadly and maligned her Majesty as a principal Obstacle to their Innovation and Kingdom and therefore sought to deprive her Highness of her Sovereignty and Life may be gathered by their own Words and Actions For Hacket confessed before the other two that They usually attend Egerton a Preacher in Black-Frairs at a Sermon of one Egerton's preach'd in the Black-Fryars whither they usually resort he the said Hacket remained uncovered all the Sermon time until the Preacher came to pray for her Majesty but then he said that he put on his Hat And when Arthington demanded why he did so Coppinger streightway answered thus There is a matter in that Likewise when as in their private Prayers amongst themselves Arthington used to pray for the Queen Coppinger Coppinger and Hacket forbear to pray for the Queen would sundry times tell him that his so doing did much grieve Hacket adding that in the beginning himself did also pray for her but Hacket had now drawn him from it saying there was a cause why which Arthington knew not but should know hereafter For saith he you do not know this man meaning Hacket who is a greater Person than she and indeed above all the Princes in the World And whenas on the very Sunday before their rising for so themselves have since termed that Action it happened that Arthington prayed again for the preservation of the Queen's Majesty Hacket not digesting this suddenly with indignation turned his face away from him but when he prayed for other matters then Hacket cast his countenance towards him again which he perceiving that Arthington also marked by him and purposing as it seemeth to salve up this matter again left Arthington happily might yet have fallen from them therefore when they had ended their Prayers Hacket took him with his Arms about the middle in very kind sort affirming that he loved the Queen as well as either of them and desired him not to be offended for the Lord had commanded it Adding further that there was a matter in it that Arthington as yet knew not Hereupon Coppinger being in hearing thereof said that she might be prayed for in general terms but not so specially as Arthington did whereby Hacket was grieved nor yet to be prayed for as a Sovereign For said he she may not reign as Note Sovereign but this man Hacket and yet saith he she shall live better than ever she did albeit she must be governed by another thereby also meaning Hacket And to the intent they might the more assuredly retain Arthington without suspicion of their poisonful malice wherein they boiled against the Queen's Highness Hacket himself once after this time very subtilly prayed for her Majesty For proof that they also meant to deprive her of life the several Confessions of Arthington Arthington confesseth that Hacket and Coppinger design'd the Queen's deprivation of Government and Life at sundry Examinations may be
to I. T. and others and to them of forreign Churches were for that matter well and advisedly endited His cunning was not small to keep the very particular way of effecting that which he desired from those he dealt with because himself knew it a dangerous secret and a course not justifiable unless it came by extraordinary motion and special oeconomy from God and therefore he desired to have it allowed so to be His pretence of entertaining intelligence touching some important service to the State of the Realm whereof he pretended to have an inlking but no full and particular knowledg was none unadvised or simple reach of policy in him For if in platting of his purposes and dealing in the principal action any thing of doubtful acceptance should happen to have been after discovered then might he well and with good colour have pretended that he did it but in way of attaining to intelligence of those dangers whereof the generality as it were in the Clouds he had afore delivered to a Counsellor For he might not seem a man to be suspected of any disloyal purpose who shewed himself so careful for his Sovereign's safety Add to these his cunning petition to have prisoners for treason c. to be examined by himself and execution of condemn'd persons to be stai'd at his beck whereby he might more easily have induced them to appeach whom he list to have overthrown and whom he principally aimed at His subtilty also doth notably appear in his petitions to her Majesty where he makes shew of great secrets to be delivered only in her presence and prayeth to be pardoned if in overmuch fear of her safety he had attempted to prove that which he could not which argueth that he had indeed not so much as any colourable intelligence delivered unto him of Treason intended by such great men as he pretended but used this as a means to have access for himself and the others unto her Highness's presence for some further intended mischief Then his allowance and commendation of sound and good counsel given him by Eg. a preacher and by others his sparing to reveal the great and dangerous secret unto Hacket upon their first acquaintance his razing out of Hacket's and the Town 's Name out of the Letter sent by him to a Noble personage to give inkling of Treasons intended against her Majesty lest the quality and unlikelyhood of the man being enquired after that that plot should be dashed his not subscribing of his name to sundry Letters his directing of Hacket neither to subscribe nor endorse but in that sort as he prescribed for fear of discovery his desire to have all the Letters again that he had written to Eg. about that matter his wary and diligent keeping of copies of every Letter that he writ in that cause and when leasure served not so to do his great care to have the very Letters again his offence with one Hoc for keeping a Letter from him which he had sent unto him his cunning excuse of Hacket's defacing of the Queen's Arms his counterfeit revelation to bring Arthington further in his device to make Arthington resolute by saying it was revealed to him that they had Angelical spirits not subject to hurt by any mortal power his willing choice to withdraw himself into an house when after their proclamation things fell not out as was expected and from thence afterward to go to his place of abode through by-lanes his and Hacket's putting off the matter from knowledg of Arthington for a time though afterward happely to be opened why the Queen might not be pray'd for in particular their pretence of the Lords commandment to keep the means secret how the Queen's Majesty and the Counsel were to be brought to repentance and unto their pretended Reformation the sensible and coherent manner of report unto Wigginton touching Hacket's and their own callings and offices by Coppinger and Arthington their temperate and pertinent answers unto Wigginton's speeches and all their consulting sundry times together about their business namely the night afore and the day of their proclamation do plainly argue that Coppinger albeit he were greatly misled by a false and spightful zeal and by much hyprocrisie yet was he far enough from any distracting of his wits in every part of this action And concerning Hacket whose terrible blasphemies at the last do argue either a villanous dissimulation to have his execution respited or a desperate intemperancy against God for frustrating his expectation there can no fury or madness be justly noted in him by the whole managing of this action but rather notable hypocricy craft and dissembled holiness First in that he seem'd a man most zealous for the pretended Reformation of the Church by erecting the Discipline and afterwards also for reforming of the Common-wealth That he used in outward appearance a most servent and devout manner of praying that in his prayers he did execrate himself most deeply if he sought not the glory of God only in this action thereby the better to be credited and to cover his villanies that he took a day's deliberation to answer the great matter after it was first propounded by Coppinger that he sought to get credit to himself and to terrify her Majesty by telling in generalities of strange judgments of God imminent over her that were revealed unto him that foreseeing it not unlikely to rain after a long time of drought he prayed in Coppinger's presence for rain whereby it might seem to be sent by God at his only prayer and mediation that he bare them in hand he could tell things to come being merely contingent that he could fain such kind of Revelations as if they were shewed to him in the midst of his torments which if they be marked tended only to have himself magnified as a man placed most highly in God's favour that when the one of his followers seemed offended he craftely excused the mislike which he had shewed to hear her Majesty prayed for that the better to colour his hatred and malice he afterwards prayed for her himself that he cunningly induced Coppinger either to fain or to fancy a Revelation that he and Arthington must obey him the said Hacket in all things that he pretended to dispence with Arthington for honouring him as King of Europe until he should do it before others where it might stand him in better sted that he craftily put off his intended anointing by Coppinger as being already done in heaven left some unlooked for accident happely falling forth the whole pageant might have been marr'd that his pretended greatest office of severing in Christ's behalf the good from the bad with his Fan in his hand was concealed from Arthington until the very time that the message was to be done by them when as it was too late to consider of it and unlawful to be disobeied that this office he proclamed unto them after his two solemn prayers for direction of them by
mutined The King proimseth them Deliverance before Easter It not coming he fains himself sick and puts a Cheat upon them by reason of the extremity of Famine their King promised them assured deliverance from God before Easter When Easter was come no sign or token of their deliverance appeared Then the King feigned himself to be sick for six days afterward assembling the people into the Market steed he told them that all that while he had ridden upon a blind Ass and that the Father had laid upon him the sins of the whole Multitude so that now they were cleansed and freed from all Vice which was the Deliverance which he promised unto them and therewith they were to hold themselves contented When the Bishop's Strength by common Supplies from the Princes of the Empire were much reenforced matters in the Town grew to that Extremity that by means of two Persons who conveyed themselves secretly forth of the Town it was at last surprized by the The City is surprized The King Knipperdolung and Crecliting taken alive Rotman is slam Assailants though with much ado and Bloodshed even after they were entred Their King with Knipperdoling and Crecliting their two false Prophets were taken alive But Rotman their Reformed Preacher seeing no hope to escape desperately ran in amongst the thickest of the Armed Companies and by them he was cut in pieces The three Persons aforenamed were carried about the Countrey as a Spectacle to sundry the Princes and others thereabouts and after were brought back again unto Munster The Bishop of Munster demanded of the King by what Authority he took upon him to rule in that City Who asked the said Bishop again by what Authority he the said Bishop claimed any Power there When he answered that he had it by means of Election of the Chapter and by Consent of the People the King replying said That himself had his Authority from God After two days had been bestowed with them to reduce them by godly Persuasions from their Errors Leyden their King confessed his Leyden repents Knipperdoling and Crecliting arc obstinate They are all three executed Sin and desired Forgiveness at Christ's hands But Knipperdoling and Crecliting would confess no fault but defended their course and Opinions with great Obstinacy So all Three being tied unto Posts were dismembred by piece meal and pulled in small pieces with hot burning Pincers and Tongs and afterward their Carkasses were hanged up there in Iron Cages but the King in the midst and much higher than the other two as his Place required Besides certain especial Opinions which Some of their Erroneous and Heretical Doctrines these Anabaptists held namely That Young Children were not to be baptized and touching Lawfulness of Poligamy or having many Wives Of Community of Goods and that Christ took not Flesh of the Virgin Mary c. they also taught and defended many other strange erroneous and heretical Positions And yet they shewed as much Devotion outward Holiness and Purity as might be As for example they held these following viz. That a perfect Christian might not exercise the Office of a Magistrate nor might take an Oath before him That God doth now oftentimes shew his Will by extraordinary Revelations Dreams and Visions That the common people have an especial Authority in determining and establishing of church-Church-causes That before the day of Judgment the Kingdom of Christ shall be such as that the Godly and Elect shall overthrow and subdue all the wicked and then they alone shall rule in the earth That it is lawful for the People to depose and put down the Prince or Magistrate That Ministers and others godly affected ought to establish though it were by Force a Reformation in all Countries That Princes and Magistrates ought not to pursue this kind of persons for that they are Innocents and the beloved People of God That the Seat of David which was fallen down must be reestablished and that Christ now in the latter end of the World shall reign externally upon the Earth That the time of besiege they then lived in was that where of Isaiah prophesied wherein the just and godly were afflicted and persecùted That the time of their deliverance and enlargement was at hand which should be like to that deliverance of the Israelites from the Thraldom under the Babylonians And that then the wicked and ungodly shall receive the guerdon and recompence of all their Impieties committed against the Saints all the ungodly being rid out of the way the seat of Righteousness should be prepared and advanced That there is none efficacy or force in that Baptism wherewith Infants are baptized All which they obstinately defended and yet whensoever they were charged they pretended that they would acknowledge and confess their Errors if they should be shewed unto them by the Scriptures to be Errors Now as I have done afore in the History A comparison of the Anabaptists in Munster with the Disciplinarians in England in Opinion and Practice of Thomas Muncer I must crave leave that with the Readers patience I may also briefly compare and resemble some of the Dealings and Errors of the Anabaptists of the City of Munster with the actions and opinions of these late Conspirators and of their Disciplinarian Schoolmasters from whom they have sucked like Poyson For did not Hacket the most ignorant of all the three being but an unlettered Maltster in like sort take upon him to rule the other and to mannage the whole Action and are not the most ignorant of such as be of this humour most presumptuous to direct all others and to discuss deepest doubts Have not their mutual cohortations and seditious instructions with their conceived Prayers and hypocritical Fasts that they practised in privy conventicles and assemblies given greatest strength to his faction to the seduction of numbers Have not the Magistrates now as great cause to look into these proceedings before they make head upon confidence of their multitudes Have not all the stayed and sound Preachers of this Land by sundry Maleperts and now again by Arthington been most insolently challenged unto disputation Hath not the cause of this pretended Discipline been nevertheless quashed oftentimes in Pulpits in publick disputations in the Universities and by learned treatises written whereby the weakness and meagerness of their childish collections have been fully displayed Will they make any hast or dare they to offer disputation if such conditions assistants and indifferent and learned Judges as are fit shall be set down and appointed and being beaten from their ordinary means have not these Conspirators and such as have animated them betaken themselves unto pretended extraordinary Callings ravishings in Spirit carryings into Heaven Revelations Dreams and Visions Have they not seditiously filled out Streets with their like hypocritical Outcries of Repent Repent c. and by gathering of Routs tending to Uproar and popular Tumult If their purposes had succeeded and their Prophecies of
is by the State suppressed and kept under That it is the will of God to have such a Reformation That impeachment of it is offered by the Queen Counsel and Nobles That this is a great sin meet to be repented of by them That they must be brought to this repentance That the penalty against any of them that refuse to be brought is to be detected as Traytors an offence deserving death That this must be done out of hand That the will of God in great favour for the good of his Church was revealed to him in this behalf being a man of much fasting prayer rare gifts a Coppinger calls it the Cause and Truth of God which must go or and to oppose it is a Sin deserving death That this was revealed to him as a Prophet and not to be discredited Prophet an extraordinary man with an extraordinary Calling such as was not to be judged of or discerned by meer ordinary men and whereinto he entred not rashly or on a sudden but after many conflicts with himself before his yielding to God's extraordinary motion and calling But submitting himself nevertheless to have his Gifts and Calling tried and allowed of by the best reformed Preachers and therefore not worthy to be suspected or discredited That the way to bring them to this repentance was a secret Mystery such as those Preachers and others whom he conferred with albeit The Preachers thought the ways of effecting of it dangerous and refused to be made acquainted with them but consent he should run the hazard they held it a work to be wished at God's hands yet by his talk gathered the manner of bringing it in to be so dangerous as that they feared the success and refused to be made acquainted with the particular ways and means which he had plotted to effect it Thereby making choise rather that Coppinger should venture to put it in practise if he remained resolute herein which they found by him of what dangerous consequence soever such a way might be than that they by bewraying of him to Authority should be any means to break off and prevent his Resolution or quench his Zeal And thus with opinion of safety to themselves they merchandized the hazard of their Friend's life or else the rearing of Sedition in the Realm with the hope that secretly they nourished to have the Discipline which they dream of erected Thus Coppinger remaining still more confirmed Coppinger brought acquainted with Hacket and Arthington and setled in this vein by his Pew-fellow Wigginton about Easter-Term last being as is aforesaid brought acquainted with Hacket as with a most holy man soon after would needs bring Arthington also acquainted with him as one whom upon so small knowledge he had observed to be a very rare man For this purpose he sent for Arthington to Dinner or Supper unto Lawson's House near to Paul's Gate where Arthington met first with Hacket together with another whom he calleth a godly man Of whose ordinary talk then had Arthington liked very well but had as he saith at that time no further conference with him After which time Arthington discontinued from the City Arthington retires into Yorkshire and remained in Yorkshire until Trinity Term leaving Hacket and Coppinger behind him plotting of their purposes together What Purposes they had what Counsel they entred into and what Conferences they entertained betwixt themselves and with others by the Events ensuing will best be discovered After this Hacket stayed Hacket goes also into the Country not long in London but desired Coppinger at his departure to write unto him what succels J. T. had and withal assuring him that whensoever he should write for him he the said Hacket would streightway come up again Hereupon Coppinger writ unto him first Coppinger sends for him to London and provides him Chamber and Board at the end of Easter Term and after again very earnestly to be at London three days before the beginning of Trinity Term last but he could not be here so soon by three or four days When he was come he lodged the first night at Istington but sent his Horse down again into the Country as purposing to stay long in London Then after a night or two one of which nights he lodged at the said Lawson's House by Wiggington's direction he was provided of a Chamber and of his Board at one Ralph Kaye's House in Knight-rider-street by Coppinger's means and at his Charges for he cost Coppinger there Eleven Shillings by the Week But Kayes waxing weary of him in part for that he seared Hacket was a Conjurer or Witch in that the Camomil he saith in his Garden where Hacket either trod or sate did wither up the next night and waxed black therefore Coppinger provided at his own charges likewise another Room for him at one Walker's House by Broken Wharf where he remained until his apprehension Whilst Hacket was at Kaye's House he Hacket leaves the Queen out of his Prayers used before and after Meals to pray as seemed most devoutly and zealously but never for the Queen's Majesty Hacket also told Kayes That if all the Divines in England should pray for Rain if he said the word yet it should not rain The first of the aforesaid Letters which Coppinger writ unto Hacket to move him to come up doth contain matter of note besides not unfit to be known Brother Hacket Coppinger ' s Letter to Hacket saith he the burthen which God hath laid upon me you being the Instrument to make me bold and couragious where I was fearful and faint is greater than I can bear without your help here though I have it where you are The workings of his holy spirit in me since your departure be mighty and great My zeal of spirit burneth like fire so that I cannot contain my self and conceal his mercies towards me And a little after in the same Letter Master Thr. is put off till the next Term the zealous Preachers as it is thought are to be in the Star-Chamber to morrow the Lord by his holy Spirit be with them My self if I can get in am moved to be there And I fear if Sentence with severity be given I shall Note be forced in the name of the great and fearful God of Heaven to protest against it My desire is that you hast up so soon as you can your Charges shall be born by me And somewhat after thus If his most holy Spirit direct you to come come If not stay But write with speed and convey your Letter and inclose it in a Letter to him who brought you and me acquainted viz. Wigginton put not your name to it for discovery Direct your Letter thus To my loving Brother in the Lord give these my Letters I put to no name but the matter you know which sufficeth Pray that the Lord may reign and that his Subjects may obey That all Instruments whatsoever that shall be